Readers' letters | On Mitch McConnell and healthcare.gov

Mitch McConnell's 'lost his way'

After reading Sen. Mitch McConnell's Nov. 29 letter regarding the "nuclear option" being used in his "war on coal," I hardly know where to begin in my response.

Let me start by pointing out that natural gas supplies are so plentiful, they have lowered the price to the point where utilities and large companies are switching over on a permanent basis. This is the major "enemy" in his "war on coal." Sure, the EPA is restrictive on mountaintop removal, but why should we lower the cost of coal by removing whole sections of Appalachia, when natural gas is readily available?

On another level, as human beings we have to live on this Earth. I tend to like breathing fresh air and drinking clean water. Oh, and occasionally I like to enjoy the natural beauty of this state and fish in its streams.

I will give the senior senator credit for one thing, though: the imagination he has shown in tying the "nuclear option" to his "war on coal" is breathtaking. Who would have thought of it? Maybe he could use some of this talent to find a way to build frameworks to employ more people, cover more people with insurance and generally improve life for the citizens of Kentucky.

In so many ways and on so many levels, his goals do not align with the needs of the average Kentucky resident. This article is another sad example of how he has lost his way. Please wake up, Kentucky. We need a senator for the people, not one to carry the money bags for the rich and powerful.

BOB HALEY

Shelbyville, Ky. 40065

The senator's 'war on coal'

Consider these two contrasting points of view on our environmental stewardship. They come from deep inside a couple of adjacent pieces appearing on your Forum page recently.

In an op-ed, Sen. Mitch McConnell called on us to fight a "war on coal." He apparently believes the Obama administration needs to relax enforcement of clean air and clean laws that go back over 40 years, altjough he's not specific about that part. While others call for a public consensus on coal, McConnell prefers war slogans.

Up the page, your editorial quoted a number paragraphs from Pope Francis' "Evangelii Gaudium" including this one: "In this system (market economics), which tends to devour everything which stands in the way of increased profits, whatever is fragile, like the environment, is defenseless before the interests of a deified market, which become the only rule."

Of course, Francis is not an economist. Neither is McConnell.

TOM LOUDERBACK

Louisville 40205

Amazon vs. .gov

It's interesting to note that Amazon.com announced it handled more than 300 packages per second on Monday from internet purchases, yet that Healthcare.gov still can't make it work to get 50,000 people a day to sign up. Hmmm.

BRUCE McKEOWN

Prospect, Ky. 40059

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Readers' letters | On Mitch McConnell and healthcare.gov

After reading Sen. Mitch McConnell's Nov. 29 letter regarding the 'nuclear option' being used in his 'war on coal,' I hardly know where to begin in my response.